On the grounds of Europe’s largest Hindu temple, volunteers unmask myths and administer coronavirus vaccines

The mother of two, aged 60, belongs to the Hindu community in the Brent neighborhood in northwest London. Although this was one of the UK’s neighborhoods most affected by Covid-19, a senior Brent council official acknowledged in September that the authorities “did not get involved effectively” with blacks, Asians and other minority groups in the early stages of the pandemic, adding that many local residents felt “disempowered” and marginalized.

Brent had Covid-19’s overall mortality patterned by the highest age of any local authority in England and Wales from March 1 to June 30, 2020, according to the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Patel says that as a first-rate medical worker, she saw systemic inequalities continue to manifest during the vaccine’s launch in the UK.

“When someone is worried, it is very important that you speak to them in your own language, because that is your comfort zone,” explained Patel. “Especially in older populations, so when they come here, we have volunteers who can also translate.”

Patients arrive by appointment and, after a hand sanitizer pump and a quick check-in process, they are taken to one of the 12 vaccination capsules assembled in the school’s theater room.

About 35 volunteers, many of whom are members of the temple, support the busy operation, often switching between multiple languages ​​to talk about their arrivals, mostly elderly.

“It is very empowering, especially as we are giving back to our local community. Not just the members of the temple, but members of the local area.” one of the volunteers told us: “It gives a real sense of community spirit, trying to help other people.”

Inside each capsule there is a story – a Hindu worshiper and postman eager to be vaccinated for his daily runs, an Iraqi woman who needs an Arabic translator to report her medical history, a couple eager to be vaccinated in order to visit their children in Los Angeles.

“It is very exciting to see the temple and to see all the people in the community here, too, from the Temple,” said Ranjana Patel after being vaccinated, “When I saw Hasmita, I was very, very excited to see her!”

Socioeconomic deprivation and deep-seated health inequalities are partly responsible for Covid-19’s disproportionate impact on ethnic minority communities, but a local government report also acknowledged critical dissemination errors and messages early in the pandemic.

Now that vaccinations are launched at high speed across the UK, studies show that minority groups have greater vaccine hesitation and less confidence in public institutions, a potent combination that can cost precious lives.

That is why choosing a home lawn, the iconic Neasden Temple, has profound significance for some of the Hindu families most affected by London. Similar vaccination sites have emerged in mosques and other places of worship in the national effort to immunize the population.

“It will give the local community enormous confidence that this vaccine is safe,” said Tarun Patel, the Temple spokesman, “because people trust the temple and I think it will go a long way towards eliminating some of the misconceptions about the virus and the vaccine itself. “

The temple also runs its own awareness campaign, publishing almost daily videos in English and Gujarati to explain the latest government guidelines and demystify the misinformation that circulates on social media.

Patel says these videos have had an impact on those who may have been reluctant to get the vaccine.

“As there are religious leaders explaining about vaccination, I think the community feels more comforted,” she said.

Local champions like Patel stepped in to fight for their own, where other public leaders seem to have disappointed minority communities.

By giving his community the chance to lead the most important health project of our time locally and improve the largest vaccination program in Britain’s history, Patel hopes to eliminate structural inequalities.

“I am very proud of this clinic and not only because it is such a successful clinic, but also because we are right in front of the temple,” said Patel.

“Every day, when I enter, I can see the temple and feel satisfied with being in my community and serving the community.”